Apparatus for melting and spraying fusible substances.



F. HERKENRATH.

APPARATUS FOR MELTiNG AND SPRAYING FUSIBLE SUBSTANCES.

APPLICATiON FILED MAR. 21,1914.

1,151,586, Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

- UNITED STATES PATENT ornrcn.

FRANZ HEBKENRATH, 0F ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN'MENTS, TO METALS COATING COMPANY OF AMERICA, 015 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,

A CORPOBAATIQN OF MASSACHUSETTS.

' APPARATUS FOR MELTING AND SPRAYING- FUSIBLE SUBSTANCES.

To all whom) it may concern Be it known that I, FRANZ HERKENRATH, acitizen of the German Empire, residing at Zurich VI, in Switzerland,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forMelting and Spraying Fusible Substances, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of this invention is to provide improved means for meltingand spraying fusible substances, such as metals, for the purpose ofcoating surfaces therewith.

To this end I use a stream of heated gas, in the path of which Iplacethe fusible substance, the temperature vof the gas being suflicientlyhigh to melt the substance. The function of the gas is thus in partanalogous to that of the blow pipe flame used in some forms of theso-called-Schoop process, but

the gas also has a propulsive effect-on the molten substance, and thuseffects the spraying, or assists in that operation. In general I find itmore economical to use, in addition to a stream of heated air or othergas, whereby the substance is melted, a blast "device acting inconjunction with the said stream of gas- I Four ' for carrying thisimproved method into effect are shown in the accompanying drawing, inFigures 1, 2,- 3 and 4: respectively,

parts of the apparatus in all the views being shown in sectlon. 1

Referring in the first instance to Fig. 1, a designates a coiled tube ofelectrically conductive but resistant material, and b. afeed 7 pipethrough which a stream of gas is'supphed to the table: a, so that'thegas issues from the tube-rat 0. Around the discharge end a of the tubeo,and concentric thre-' with, is an annular blast nozzle d, to which I astream of gas is fed throu ha pipe 6.

Electric currentis fed throug the tube a by means of wires w and heatsthe said tube sufficiently to raise the gas therein to thetemperaturerequired for melting a rod or wire f of the fusible substance held infront of the nozzle and fed forward through a guide 9 at the raterequired.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2' a tube a of refractive materialincloses an electric resistance 6 through which current is fed by meansof wires ota 2 A stream of Specification of Letters Patent.

embodiments of apparatus suitable Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

Application filed March 21, 1914. Serial No. 826,137.

gas is fed into the tube a by means of a plpe b and passes out through ashort pipe 6 the discharge end of which is surrounded by an annularblast nozzle al The stream of gas flowing through the tube a is heated lby the resistance 6 to the temperature requlred for meltin the fusiblesubstance.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 a tube a of refractive material suchas carbon,

graphite, carborundum or the like is partly inclosed by a metal tube 6into which a stream of gas is fed through a pipe I). The tube a whichprojects at 0 from the tube 6 is electrically insulated from the latterby collars m, n, and by a holder is which embraces the inner end of thetubeo. and is movable in the tube so that the tube a can freely expand.The holder is has ducts d terminating, inside the holder at orifices inthe wall of the tube a so that the stream of gas fed through the pipe I)into the interior 1' of the tube 6 passes through the ducts d into thetubea and is discharged from the latter outside the tube 6 The outer enda of the tube a is surrounded by an annular blast nozzle dElectric'current is fed through the tube 0. by means of wires to andconnections w so that the tube becomes hot and heats the gas passingtherethrough to the required temperature. A

temperature of 2000 C. can easily be ata of fire-clay or otherrefractive material is filled with-a granular heat conducting mass b,for example with particles of carbon, the interstices of which areadequate to give passage to a stream of gas fed into the tube through apipe b and discharged through a nozzle a arranged in proximity to aguide 9?, through which a wire f of the substance to be melted andsprayed is fed. The'tube a and the granular carbon therein are heated bya burner 16. Combustible or-non-combustible gas may be used, andacquires reducing properties by contact with the car bon in the tube aWiththe appliances shown in Figs, 1, 2 and 3, I preferablyuse' gases ofa chemically neutral or reducingvquality in order to prevent oxidationof the electric conductors and of the substance melted.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States is l 1. An apparatus for producing a hot gasblast formelting and spraying fusible substances which comprises a gas-conduithaving a discharge orifice, means to heat said con-' duit abovethemelting point of said fusible substance, a gas-holding member partlysurrounding said conduit, the discharge orifice of said conduit beingoutside said gas-holding member, and means for supplying gas 7 underpressure to said conduit and said gasholding member.

2. An apparatus for producing a hot gas-- ing a discharge orifice, an.electric heating device to heat said conduit above the melting point ofsaid fusible substance, a gas-holding member partly surrounding saidconduit, the discharge orifice of said conduit being outside saidgas-holding member, and

means for supplying gas under pressure to said conduit and saidgas-holding member.

4. An apparatus for producing a hot gasblast for melting. and sprayingfusible substances which comprises a gas-conduit having a dischargeorifice, an electric heating device to Heat said conduit above themelting point of said fusible substance, a tube closed at both endspartly surrounding said conduit, the discharge orifice of said conduitbeing outside said tube, and means for supplying gas under pressure tosaid conduit and tube.

5. An apparatus for producing a hot gasblast for melting and sprayingfusible substances Which comprises a gas-conduit of electricallyconductive material having a discharge orifice, means for feeding anelectric current to and from said conduit to heat same, a tube closed atboth ends partly surrounding said conduit, the discharge orifice of saidconduit being outside said tube,

and means for supplying gas under pressure to said conduit and tube.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo witnesses.

FRANZ HERKENRATH.

Witnesses 7 PAUL 'ZOLLER, CARL SUBEG.

